What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. These functions include memory, language skills, visual perception, problem solving, self-management, and the ability to focus and pay attention. Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions, and their personalities may change. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend completely on others for basic activities of living.

While dementia is more common as people grow older (up to half of all people age 85 or older may have some form of dementia), it is not a normal part of aging. Many people live into their 90s and beyond without any signs of dementia. One type of dementia, frontotemporal disorders, is more common in middle-aged than older adults.

The causes of dementia can vary, depending on the types of brain changes that may be taking place. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. Other dementias include Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal disorders, and vascular dementia. It is common for people to have mixed dementia—a combination of two or more types of dementia. For example, some people have both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

What are the Different Types of Dementia?

Hispanic man with dementia sitting in a parkVarious disorders and factors contribute to the development of dementia. Neurodegenerative disorders result in a progressive and irreversible loss of neurons and brain functioning. Currently, there are no cures for these types of disorders. They include:

Alzheimer’s disease

Frontotemporal disorders

Lewy body dementia

Other types of progressive brain disease include:

Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia

Mixed dementia, a combination of two or more types of dementia

Other conditions that cause dementia-like symptoms can be halted or even reversed with treatment. For example, normal pressure hydrocephalus, an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, often resolves with treatment.

In addition, certain medical conditions can cause serious memory problems that resemble dementia. These problems should go away once the conditions are treated. These conditions include:

Side effects of certain medicines

Emotional problems, such as stress, anxiety, or depression

Certain vitamin deficiencies

Drinking too much alcohol

Blood clots, tumors, or infections in the brain

Delirium

Head injury, such as a concussion from a fall or accident

Thyroid, kidney, or liver problems

Doctors have identified many other conditions that can cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms. These conditions include:

Argyrophilic grain disease, a common, late-onset degenerative disease

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare brain disorder

Huntington’s disease, an inherited, progressive brain disease

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), caused by repeated traumatic brain injury

HIV-associated dementia (HAD)

The overlap in symptoms of various dementias can make it hard to get an accurate diagnosis. But a proper diagnosis is important to get the right treatment. Seek help from a neurologist—a doctor who specializes in disorders of the brain and nervous system—or other medical specialist who knows about dementia.

To diagnose dementia, doctors first assess whether a person has an underlying treatable condition such as abnormal thyroid function, normal pressure hydrocephalus, or a vitamin deficiency that may relate to cognitive difficulties. Early detection of symptoms is important, as some causes can be treated. In many cases, the specific type of dementia a person has may not be confirmed until after the person has died and the brain is examined.

Ventura County Library welcomes customers back into buildings

E.P. Foster Library is slowly opening.

Since April 7, 2021, the Ventura County Library System libraries, including libraries in the cities of Ojai, Ventura, Port Hueneme, and Fillmore, have welcomed the public back for limited indoor services including browsing and checkout of collections and computer use. Customers have up to 50 minutes per day to conduct activities in the library. Since summer of 2020, customers have also been able to place holds for library materials online and pick them up when ready just outside the front doors of the libraries. Throughout the pandemic, the library system has worked closely with public health officials and within state guidelines for libraries to provide safe library services and programs.

The safety of customers and staff remain the first priority and customers may notice enhanced safety measures when they come back to the library, such as plexiglass barriers at service desks, availability of hand sanitizer, and socially distanced computer workstations. The library has covered additional costs throughout the pandemic associated with paying janitorial crews for more often and extra deep cleaning measures and upgraded filters on HVAC systems. The library continues to provide numerous online programs and resources, but also has plans to implement some in-person programs again as early as this summer. When the state reopens, public seating and tables will be made available again for study and reading, and time limits for library use per day eliminated.

At the Ventura County Library System, 42% of library employees were redeployed over the course of the pandemic to serve as Disaster Services Workers for other county agencies, performing tasks such as delivering meals to seniors, contact tracing and working at vaccination clinics. During the pandemic, several customer service modifications were made, some of which the library is planning to continue after the pandemic because they were so successful, such as offering live online tutoring for students in both English and Spanish, chat reference services, virtual STEAM and Storytime programs, and enhanced ebook collections.

For a seven-month period in the past year, over 2,000 students received live tutoring online through the library. Over 25,000 people received virtual library cards online to access ebooks and databases, including many students accessing these resources for schoolwork. And from July 2020 to April 2021 an average of 15,600 items were checked out from the libraries per month. Ebook usage increased 75% over the past year, and eaudiobook usage increased 25%. From March 2020 to April 2021, staff produced 621 live Storytime programs on Facebook which had 70,044 unique views.

You can come inside and browse materials, checkout books, and use a computer.  If you place a hold on an item online, you can pick it up at the library when it is ready. The only things you can’t do at this time is be in the library more than 50 minutes per day, attend in-person library programs, or sit inside the library to study or read.  Those things will start again after June 15.

Ventura region branches:

Avenue Library, 606 North Ventura Ave.

E.P. Foster Library, 651 East Main St.

Hill Road Library, 1070 S. Hill Road

Saticoy Library, 1292 Los Angeles Ave.

County of Ventura Human Services Agency Partners with SEEAG to Increase CalFresh student enrollment

SEEAG hopes to reach over 3,000 school-age children with their healthy eating message.

The County of Ventura Human Services Agency is partnering with Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) to increase CalFresh enrollment and food access among students and families served by SEEAG’s Ventura County Child Wellness Initiative (VCCWI). CalFresh provides monthly food benefits to individuals and families with low-incomes.

SEEAG’s VCCWI began in 2017. SEEAG staff members travel in an agricultural and nutritional-themed Farm Fresh Mobile Classroom van to Ventura County elementary schools to educate, inspire and empower children and their families to increase their consumption of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.

A main VCCWI goal is to reduce rates of childhood obesity and preventable illnesses. Next school year, SEEAG hopes to reach over 3,000 school-age children with their healthy eating message.

Over the summer, SEEAG will work with the Human Services Agency’s CalFresh program to develop a curriculum designed to encourage families to enroll in CalFresh. The CalFresh curriculum will be incorporated into the VCCWI program as students learn about healthy eating habits and how fresh produce is grown.

Bilingual representatives from the county’s CalFresh outreach team will be at SEEAG’s VCCWI school presentations as well as at Food and Health Resource market pop-ups and on virtual webinars. 

Major VCCWI health-related partners include Dignity Health St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Clinicas del Camino Real, Gold Coast Health Plan and Adventist Health Simi Valley.

For more about SEEAG and the Ventura County Child Wellness Initiative, go to www.seeag.org. To reserve a program time and date, click on www.seeag.org/programscheduler.

Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program based in Ventura County teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this and other SEEAG programs, over 60,000 elementary school students in Central and Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. For more information, visit www.seeag.org or email Mary Maranville at [email protected].

VMF’s live July 23rd concert presents Aubrey Logan: Voice of the trombone

Lovers of Jazz, R&B and Pop—don’t miss this global star Aubrey Logan.

by Richard Newsham, VMF consultant

Lovers of Jazz, R&B and Pop—don’t miss this global star of stage and stream with her transfixing voice and slide-in-your-tracks trombone technique during her 2021 Ventura Music Festival concert on Friday, July 23, at 8 pm, at the Robert G. Valles Performing Arts Center at Pacifica High School, 600 E Gonzales Rd, in Oxnard.

Aubrey Logan—a.k.a. the “Queen of Sass” or “Diva of Brass”—has cast a spell on audiences large (2017 Festival international de Jazz de Montréal) and small (Austin’s intimate basement Parker Jazz Club) with her postmodern jukebox concerts that tilt hard for Jazz lounge standards, Pop hits and R&B and Calypso classics.

An “American Idol” contestant—who has worked with Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Josh Groban, Dave Koz, Linda Ronstadt, Smokey Robinson and Pharrell Williams—she uses her phenomenal vocal powers—now chanteuse, now opera singer—and sly Tommy Dorsey inspired “glides” on her trombone (the only brass instrument with a slide) to draw her listeners into compellingly sultry and adventuresome arrangements of popular music.

Whether it’s Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm,” MC Hammer’s ”Can’t Touch This,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” Smashmouth’s “ALLSTAR,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” or Wham’s “Careless Whisper”—around the corner of every familiar tune (and the songwriter’s originals) are “anything but standard” surprises—a favorite song magically transformed by her singular brass and vocal gifts. Don’t miss witnessing this once-in-a-generation talent!

Tickets and details for this 100% vaccinated event at www.venturamusicfestival.org.

City of Ventura launches online tool to support local businesses in recovering from COVID-19

The City of Ventura’s Economic Development Division is launching a new online business intelligence tool called “SizeUp Ventura” to provide access to market research information.

“The City of Ventura is committed to helping our local businesses succeed and recover from the pandemic,” stated Mayor Sofia Rubalcava. “They are the foundation of our local economy, employ our residents, create new jobs, and make our community a more prosperous place.”

Local businesses and entrepreneurs can now access free industry-specific and hyperlocal information to help them grow and make smarter decisions using big data analysis. SizeUp features information collected from hundreds of public and proprietary data sources covering firmographic, demographic, geographic, labor, wage, cost, consumer spending, transportation, and more.

“In today’s information economy, if you don’t have access to information your business is at a significant disadvantage. With the launch of SizeUp, we are empowering Ventura businesses to make more data-driven decisions to better operate, succeed, grow, and recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Estelle Bussa, City of Ventura Economic Development Manager.

Using the new SizeUp Ventura website, local businesses can:
1.   Rank their business performance compared to industry competitors,
2.   Discover potential customers and suppliers,
3.   Better understand the competitive landscape, and
4.   Optimize advertising to target ideal customer segments.

In support of Small Business Week, local small and medium businesses are invited to a virtual SizeUp Ventura workshop on Thursday, May 6, 2021, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Advance registration required for the Zoom meeting. To register, visit http://bit.ly/SizeUpVentura.

To learn more about SizeUp Ventura or the City’s Economic Development Office, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/SizeUpVentura.

A Purr-fect Place to Relax

Jennifer Thompson cuddles with Michael, one of the cats available for affection and adoption, at Cassie’s Cats.

by Jill Forman

“I’m here to hang out with kitties!” says the excited visitor as she comes into Cassie’s Cats Lounge and Adoption Center. Four friendly felines stroll around, doze, and occasionally jump unexpectedly into waiting laps. Comfortable furniture, for both humans and cats, is spread out in the large, open room in Midtown.

It is a place to hang out, relax, de-stress, with the aid of cats. Cuddling with a pet has been shown to have all sorts of beneficial effects on physical and mental health; a “kitty fix.”

“It’s a dream come true” for Jennifer Thompson, who founded Cassie’s Cats and opened the Lounge last month. She first saw a similar setting in Santa Barbara, and went in “…because I love cats.” With the help of her family, volunteers and community members she has been able to fundraise and get through the process of becoming a 501(c)3, renting the space, and equipping it. She has also kept an active social media presence on Facebook and Instagram.

On entering the storefront, there is a front area, with gifts for people and animals for sale: t-shirts, tote bags, car toys, pouches, earrings, quilted kitchen items, masks and lots more. The majority of the sewn items were made by Jennifer and her mother. (Free to come in and shop.)

The cats are all rescues and are available for adoption, but there is no pressure to do so. In fact, pressure of any kind is the opposite of what the Lounge is for. They come from many rescue organizations who are delighted to have another avenue to give cats a good home.

Volunteers will be essential to keeping the Lounge staffed. There is a volunteer orientation on June 19. Anyone interested can contact Thompson at the email or phone that will be at the end of this article

To hang out and cuddle with a cat, the prices are $8 for 30 minutes, and $14 for a full hour. Reservations are encouraged, though walk-ins will be welcome if there are fewer than three folks enjoying the kitties at the time. Days will be Thursday-Sunday, 11-5.

To visit, donate, volunteer or any questions:
Cassie’s Cats, 1744 E. Main St. (805) 232-4228
[email protected] www.cassiescatsandkittens.org

CAPS broadcasts and live streams high school graduations

Everyone at CAPS Media congratulates every 2021 high school graduate in Ventura! After a year of COVID lock down and isolation, the students, families and friends recently shared a week of joyous graduation celebrations. CAPS Media crews recorded and live-streamed the commencement ceremonies for all six Ventura high schools: Buena, Ventura, Foothill, El Camino, Pacific and VACE (Ventura Adult and Continuing Education).

The Buena High celebration was on Wednesday, June 9 at their Bulldog stadium; the Ventura High ceremony was on Thursday, June 10 at the school’s Cougar stadium, and the final all-day extravaganza covered ceremonies for Foothill, El Camino, Pacific and VACE grads, held back-to-back at the Ventura College stadium on Friday, June 11. All of the commencement celebrations were held with enthusiastic friends and family members in the stands cheering on the graduates.

In addition to airing the events live on CAPS Channel 15, CAPS crews also set up and directed the live-stream distributions of every celebration to the VUSD, enabling all of the graduation ceremonies to be seen live worldwide and locally on the VUSD YouTube channel.

At the same time, CAPS crews are producing a series of video messages by Ventura City Council members and Ventura City Staff members as part of this year’s State of the City update. The brief videos allow each representative and staff member to introduce themselves to the public, express their thoughts on the past year, and share their personal goals and visions for the future as the community emerges from the pandemic.

The messages will be included in Mayor Sofia Rubalcava’s State of the City report hosted by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce on June 24. Themed “A Time Like No Other,” the program will feature an update by Mayor Rubalcava, plus a special presentation from Dr. Roger Rice, Superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District, and a question and answer session with Mayor Rubalcava conducted by Stephanie Caldwell, president and CEO of the Ventura Chamber. The Mayor’s State of the City event will be begin at 1pm on Thursday, June 24 and will be live-streamed on the chamber website.

During the shutdown, the CAPS Media Center continues to broadcast and stream television programming on Channel 6 and Channel 15 and online. In addition, CAPS radio, KPPQ 104.1FM continues to broadcast and stream a vast variety of engaging original and syndicated radio programs. CAPS Member/Producers can submit television and radio programming via the online portal at capsmedia.org for broadcast and streaming on CAPS public access television Channel 6, and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1FM. KPPQ DJs and hosts can access the radio studio in the CAPS Media Center by appointment. Please coordinate with KPPQ director, Elizabeth Rodeno.

Every member of the CAPS Media team wants to thank the public for going above and beyond during the COVID-19 emergency by staying safe and distant, getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and helping others. Thanks to the effort by the community, Ventura is slowly emerging from the pandemic restrictions. Despite the increasingly good news the CAPS Media Center will continue remain closed to CAPS Members and the public until further notice. CAPS Media is taking a very cautious approach to continue to protect our staff.

Local Ventura artist selected to join the City of Ventura’s Public Art Program’s Streetscape Mural Project

Home for the summer Kaylie has taken on the task of painting murals.

by Richard Lieberman

The City of Ventura Public Art Program’s Streetscape Mural Project is a sidewalk and street corner showcase for talented local artists and community members to transform traffic signal utility boxes into new public art. Since 2007 artists have painted over 30 boxes with designs that will beautify street corners and aid in minimizing graffiti. Artists, students, schools, and community organizations have made for a better pedestrian experience on Ventura Streets by participating in the City of Ventura’s “Think Outside the Box” program. The program was designed and initiated in 2007 to transform designated street utility boxes into public works of art.

Born and raised in Ventura local artist Kaylie Pendleton is currently a college junior at the Northwest College of Arts in Portland, Oregon. Home for the summer she has taken on the task of painting murals on two traffic signal utility boxes located at the corner of Day Street and Telegraph Roads. Kaylie won the “Mayors Art Award” in 2017 and has worked on the 2019 “Irish Belle” for the Saint Patrick’s Day parade. “I have always been interested in art I love drawing people, flowers, doing magazine illustration, and fashion design,” she said. Painting the murals will take about one or two weeks she added.

Kaylie is a survivor of Retinoblastoma (a cancer affecting the retina which may be caused by genetic mutation though the exact cause is still unknown). In 2019 Kaylie had her mural design selected by Loma Vista Elementary School and installed in 2019, she is also the recipient of the 2021 Ventura County Community Foundation Vivian Klemz Scholarship.

“I have grown up in Ventura, so I have always seen these (traffic signal utility boxes) and saw which ones I liked a lot and since I went to college, we were able to pick our own project and I was able to design this for class and here we are,” Kaylie added. The City of Ventura’s Public Art Program supplies the material to accomplish the task. “I had to fundraise, and Ventura residents were able to donate and get me the supplies I needed, through the cities Public Arts Program,” said Pendleton. “I have been focused on drawing and illustration for around six years now so I am studying illustration and graphic design and I hope people can see that in my work.”

Kaylie is looking forward to returning to Portland this fall as a senior and has also been accepted into a study abroad program this fall in England “I love Portland overall, a great vibe for illustration and graphic design” she said.

Kaylie will graduate with a BA in illustration in May, 2022.

Vol. 14, No. 19 – June 16 – June 29, 2021 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi: I’m Capo, a friendly 1-year-old Shepherd Mix who was rescued from the Devore Shelter where I was left by my owner. I have a bright smile and gorgeous eyes. I am a friendly guy who walks well on a leash. I love to run around the play yard and sniff everything. I could possibly do okay with another dog, a meet and greet would have to be done first. If you’re looking for an active and lovable goofball, I’m your man. Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.


Finn is a big, gorgeous boy who was surrendered because his previous owner no longer had time to provide the training, exercise and attention that Finn needed. Finn is very playful and friendly with people, but he may bark or lunge at dogs when he is on leash or behind a barrier (like a fence). At this time we are primarily looking for a rescue to pull Finn to ensure he goes into a breed-savvy home that can handle his size and needs.
Ventura County Animal Services – Camarillo location – 600 Aviation Drive
Finn A697734

Vol. 14, No. 19 – June 16 – June 29, 2021 – Mailbox

Dear Sheldon,

Does anyone like gas-powered leaf blowers? From neighborhoods and business complexes, to parks and schools, it’s impossible to escape their raucous presence. They are mega polluters which spew smog forming compounds, such as ozone and carbon monoxide into the air. What’s more, these machines can generate 115 decibels of sound, which can cause hearing loss and psychological stress.  

To improve air quality and reduce noise pollution, homeowners and landscapers should switch to battery electric blowers. They’re zero emission and about half as noisy. There are models that can last up to 45 minutes on a charge, and the batteries are interchangeable with other lawn equipment of the same brand. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have cleaner air and quieter communities? We can. All it takes is ditching the gas blower and going electric.

Kristen Kessler Ventura

Kristen:
But the still “spew smog forming compounds.”


Crawl of our Ocean
By Jeff Russell

Winds that gust a wave goodbye,
Are watchful out to sea,
Misty waters with a sunny slide,
The crawl beneath the tide.

Swells retreat into warm horizons,
Deposit new life on Pacific shores,
They are the access of natures journey,
The sands of a gentle pull home.

Ventura returns a living tide.


Dear Editor:

As a person living with metastatic breast cancer, the June 15 COVID-19 restrictions being lifted makes me rather nervous.  From all outward appearances I look just like everyone else.  With my hair and makeup done, my prosthetics on and my scars covered I could even pass for a healthy person most days.  On the inside are where the real health issues lie.  What healthy people don’t understand are the worries I live with on a daily basis.  I worry about being immunocompromised from treatment, about not knowing who has been vaccinated and who has not, about being in close proximity to others outside of my germ family.  I worry that my lung metastasis could cause a more severe case of COVID-19.

Astra-Zeneca, the manufacturer of the anti-cancer drug I take, has a nurse helpline.  Shortly after the vaccine was authorized for emergency use I called that nurse helpline to inquire about the vaccine and any known side effects or interactions with my treatment.  Their answer, “We have zero information regarding that.”  I asked when they would have that kind of information.  Her answer again, “We have zero information regarding that.”

There are still so many unknowns with this virus, even the drug manufacturers don’t have enough data.  I plan to continue to wear my mask inside and in situations where social distancing isn’t possible until I feel comfortable going without.  I’m thinking I should start a movement for the immunocompromised to wear a special ribbon or something on their mask that lets others know we are wearing masks to express we have a condition which may not be visible on the outside and to respect our personal space.

The research is now showing that the vaccinated immunocompromised may not be as protected from the virus and may not develop antibodies.  So if you see me out in my mask with a ribbon tied to it, it will be your social cue to give me some space.  For now my mask will continue to be my security blanket and hopefully a reminder to others, especially to those who are healthy, that not all disabilities are visible.  As Germany Kent says, “Be kind.  We never know what people are going through.  Give grace and mercy because one day your circumstance could change and you may need it.”

Be well,
Marissa Holzer


We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.
~ Mother Teresa